Multipart cover made of paper and method for producing a cover

ABSTRACT

A multipart cover made of paper material and including a base body having a cover plate and a circumferential cover collar extending from the cover plate, wherein the cover collar, in a condition where same is placed onto a vessel to be closed, surrounds an upper rim of a vessel to be closed, and a reinforcement ring surrounds the cover collar at least sectionally on the radially exterior side of the cover collar. The cover collar includes at least one bead encircling the cover collar in the circumferential direction, and when viewed in the elevation direction the bead is disposed at a constant distance from the cover plate.

The invention relates to a multipart cover made of paper material. Theinvention also relates to a method for producing a multipart cover madeof paper material.

The aim of the invention is to provide an improved multipart cover madeof paper material and an improved method for producing such a cover.

According to the invention a multipart cover made of paper material isprovided, comprising a base body which includes a cover plate and acircumferential cover collar extending from the cover plate, wherein thecover collar, in a condition placed onto a container to be closed,surrounds an upper rim of a container to be closed, and a reinforcementring which surrounds the cover collar at least sectionally on theradially exterior side of the cover collar.

In a further development of the invention, the cover collar includes atleast one bead encircling the cover collar in the circumferentialdirection, wherein viewed in the elevation direction the bead isdisposed at a constant distance to the cover plate.

With the base body including a circumferential cover collar surroundingan upper rim of a container to be closed, the circumferential covercollar is configured to be continuous and without a step, since the basebody is in one piece. Thus, the cover according to the invention sitsspecifically tight on a cup to be closed, since the base body formed inone piece does not have an overlapping to present a step that couldaffect leak tightness.

By means of the cover according to the invention, a secure hold of thecover on the container to be closed is ensured in that the bead engagesbehind a circumferential lip rim, that may also be flattened, of thecontainer to be closed, for example a cardboard cup. Here, the distanceof the bead to the cover plate is matched to the height of the lip rimof the container to be closed. Since the cover collar and the coverplate are shaped from a one-piece paper cut-out, the cover collar doesnot have an overlapping and thus may apply tightly to the open end of acontainer to be closed. Thus, by means of the cover according to theinvention, a very leak-tight closure may be obtained. In this context,paper as well as paper-type materials, like paperboard, pasteboard,cardboard, and the like are considered to be paper materials. Evencoated paper material is considered to be paper material, for example,paper coated by a layer of wax or a layer of synthetic material on oneside or on two sides. The coated side of the paper material can beadapted to hot sealing, to connect the base body to the reinforcementring. Conveniently, the base body is produced from a paper materialprovided with a synthetic material coating at least on one side, and thecoated surface is facing the open end of the container closed by thecover. The individual parts of the multipart cover according to theinvention can in general be connected to another by different ways andmeans, by hot sealing, as mentioned, but also by adhesive bonding, usinghot melt adhesive or cold glue, for example, by pressing, and also by acombination of said connecting means.

In a further development of the invention, the bead extends radiallyinwards relative to a portion of the cover collar immediately adjacentto the cover plate.

In this manner, when placing the cover onto a vessel to be closed, anupper rim of the vessel can snap-in behind the bead, and thus aparticularly simple placement and secure hold of the cover on thecontainer is ensured.

In a further development of the invention, a portion between the beadand the cover plate is configured to be curved radially outwards, asviewed in cross section.

Such a design of the cover is particularly advantageous in case that thecontainer to be closed has a lip rim of circular cross section at theupper, open end thereof. Said lip rim can then be received in theportion between the bead and the cover plate and a particularly secureand leak-tight closure of the vessel may be obtained. Therein, theportion between the bead and the cover plate may be configured to have across section in the shape of a circle segment, to allow receiving of alip rim of circular cross section. However, the portion between the beadand the cover plate can also be in an oval shape, and thus be providedfor a lip rim of circular cross section or even a flattened lip rim. Forexample, a cup can have a peripheral, flattened foldover or simply ahorizontal radially outwards projecting rim at the upper rim of the cup.Such a rim can as well be securely received with a radially outwardscurved portion between the bead and the cover plate, and such a rim isas well referred to as a lip rim.

In a further development of the invention, a portion of the cover plate,immediately adjacent to the cover collar, is curved outwards as viewedin cross section, and extends, starting from the transition betweencover collar and cover plate, downwards towards the open side of thecover.

Such a design allows receiving of a lip rim of a vessel to be closedover a very wide range of angles, as viewed in cross section. Thus, thevessel can be securely closed. For example, the transition between covercollar and cover plate is rounded out over an angle of more than 90°, asviewed in cross section. The rounding out can extend up to 180° at thetransition between cover collar and cover plate.

In a further development of the invention, the cover collar isconfigured in the shape of a truncated cone in the direction towards theopen side of the cover, successive to the bead up to the lower rim ofthe cover.

Such a design of the cover collar facilitates sliding the cover onto theupper rim of a container to be closed and provides for self-centering ofthe cover during sliding on, for example. By means of such a design ofthe cover collar, stacking of the covers is also substantiallyfacilitated.

In a further development of the invention, a portion of thereinforcement ring disposed above the cover bottom has an outer diameterthat is smaller than an inner diameter of the cover collar below thebead, and an inner diameter of the bead is smaller than the outerdiameter of the reinforcement ring above the cover bottom.

In this manner, multiple covers according to the invention can bestacked securely, and even in case that multiple covers according to theinvention are stacked, there is no risk that the stacked covers getjammed into another, since the bead is to prevent that two stackedcovers are inserted too far one into the other and thus are jammed.

In a further development of the invention, the bead extends radiallyoutwards relative to a portion of the cover collar immediately adjacentto the cover plate.

In this manner, the bead can receive a lip rim of a container to beclosed, and thus provide for secure locking of the cover on thecontainer.

In a further development of the invention, the reinforcement ring on anupper surface of the cover bottom is provided with a roll ring extendingover the periphery of the cover and having an essentially circular crosssection.

Such a roll ring is for stiffening the cover, wherein the roll ring mayrest on the cover plate, to further increase the reinforcing effect. Theroll ring may also be a support surface for stacking multiple cups.

In a further development of the invention, the roll ring rests on theupper surface of the cover bottom.

In this manner, the reinforcing effect of the roll ring may be evenfurther improved.

In a further development of the invention, the reinforcement ring on anupper surface of the cover bottom is provided with a peripheral shroudor skirt.

Such a skirt is for stiffening of the cover and can be configured to becylindrical or a truncated cone tapering to the upper side. The termshroud or skirt is to designate an edge crimped and pressed by 180°.Such a shroud allows a very stiff configuration of the multipart coveraccording to the invention.

In a further development of the invention, the skirt is configured to becylindrical.

In a further development of the invention, the skirt is configured to bea truncated cone.

A truncated cone tapering to the upper side configuration of the skirtfacilitates stacking of multiple covers.

In a further development of the invention, the reinforcement ring restsplanar on a periphery of the cover collar.

A planar resting of the reinforcement ring on a periphery of the covercollar provides for a secure connection and a very stable implementationof the cover according to the invention.

In a further development of the invention, the reinforcement ring has abead extending radially outwards, the radially exterior upper side ofwhich is a support surface for stacking another cover of the same type.

In this manner, multiple covers can be stacked securely, and there is norisk that during stacking the covers slide too far one into the otherthat they are jammed.

In a further development of the invention, a lower peripheral edge ofthe cover collar and/or of the reinforcement ring in the stackedcondition of two similar covers rests on the support surface on theupper side of the bead.

In a further development of the invention, the reinforcement ring isconnected to the cover collar by means of adhesive bonding or sealingabove and below the circumferential bead extending along the periphery.

In this manner, the cover according to the invention can have aparticularly stable design, and thus be produced using thinner papermaterial, for example.

The problem underlying the invention is also solved by a method forproducing a multipart cover made of paper material, comprising thefollowing steps:

shaping a base body from a one-piece paper material cut-out, wherein thebase body includes a cover plate and a circumferential cover collarextending from the cover plate, and wherein the cover collar is providedwith a circumferential bead,

shaping a reinforcement ring, and

connecting the reinforcement ring to the base body such that thereinforcement ring surrounds the cover collar on the radially exteriorside of the cover collar.

In the process, the succession of the method steps can be varied.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe claims and the subsequent description of preferred embodiments ofthe invention in connection with the drawings. Individual features ofthe different embodiments illustrated and described may be combined inan arbitrary manner without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. In the drawings show:

FIG. 1 a view of a container with a cover according to the inventionplaced thereon according to a first embodiment,

FIG. 2 the container and the cover of FIG. 1 in a sectional view,

FIG. 3 an enlarged detail of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 a view of multiple stacked covers,

FIG. 5 a sectional view of the stacked covers of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 an oblique view from above of another cover according to theinvention,

FIG. 7 an oblique view from below of the cover of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 an oblique view from above of another cover according to theinvention,

FIG. 9 an oblique view from below of the cover of FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 a view of a cup closed by a cover according to the inventionaccording to another embodiment,

FIG. 11 a sectional view of the cup and cover of FIG. 10,

FIG. 12 an enlarged detail of the sectional view of FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 multiple covers according to the invention of FIG. 10 in astacked condition,

FIG. 14 a sectional view of the stacked covers of FIG. 13,

FIG. 15 a view of a cup closed by a cover according to the inventionaccording to another embodiment,

FIG. 16 a sectional view of the cup and cover of FIG. 15,

FIG. 17 an enlarged detail of FIG. 16,

FIG. 18 multiple stacked covers according to FIG. 15,

FIG. 19 a sectional view of the stacked covers of FIG. 18,

FIG. 20 a view of a cup closed by a cover according to the inventionaccording to another embodiment,

FIG. 21 a sectional view of the cup and cover of FIG. 20,

FIG. 22 an enlarged detail of FIG. 21,

FIG. 23 multiple stacked covers according to FIG. 20,

FIG. 24 a sectional view of the covers of FIG. 23,

FIG. 25 a cup closed by a cover according to the invention according toanother embodiment,

FIG. 26 a sectional view of the cup and cover of FIG. 25,

FIG. 27 an enlarged detail of FIG. 26,

FIG. 28 multiple stacked covers according to FIG. 25,

FIG. 29 a sectional view of the covers of FIG. 28,

FIG. 30 a cup closed by a cover according to the invention according toanother embodiment,

FIG. 31 a sectional view of the cup and cover of FIG. 30,

FIG. 32 an enlarged detail of FIG. 31,

FIG. 33 multiple stacked covers according to FIG. 30,

FIG. 34 a sectional view of the covers of FIG. 33,

FIG. 35 a cup closed by a cover according to the invention according toanother embodiment,

FIG. 36 a sectional view of the cup and cover of FIG. 35,

FIG. 37 an enlarged detail of FIG. 36,

FIG. 38 multiple stacked covers according to FIG. 35,

FIG. 39 a sectional view of the covers of FIG. 38,

FIG. 40 a view of a cup with a cover according to the invention placedthereon according to another embodiment,

FIG. 41 a sectional view of the cup and cover of FIG. 40,

FIG. 42 an enlarged detail of FIG. 41,

FIG. 43 a view of multiple stacked covers,

FIG. 44 a sectional view of the stacked covers of FIG. 43,

FIG. 45 a view of a cup with a cover according to the invention placedthereon according to another embodiment,

FIG. 46 a sectional view of the cup and cover of FIG. 45,

FIG. 47 an enlarged detail of FIG. 46,

FIG. 48 a view of multiple stacked covers, and

FIG. 49 a sectional view of the stacked covers of FIG. 48.

The illustration of FIG. 1 shows a multipart paper cover 10, comprisinga base body 12 and a reinforcement ring 14 surrounding the base body 12.The cover 10 is placed onto a cup 16.

The sectional view of FIG. 2 shows that the base body 12 is producedfrom a one-piece paper cut-out and includes a cover plate 18 and acircumferential cover collar 20 extending from the cover plate 18. Thebase body 12 is produced by deforming a one-piece cut-out which iscircular and is subject to deep drawing, for example, to initiallyproduce a bowl-shaped body, with the bowl bottom then forming the coverplate and the bowl wall forming the cover collar 20. A circumferentialbead 22 is realized in the cover collar 20 by appropriate dies or alsoby pressing in a roller encircling the cover collar 20, for example. Inthe embodiment of the multipart cover 10 as illustrated, the bead 22 isshaped radially inwards. The reinforcement ring 14 is then placed ontothe base body 12. The reinforcement ring 14 is composed of a one-piece,strip-shaped paper cut-out that is connected in the vicinity of anoverlapping (not illustrated), by adhesive bonding or sealing, forexample. Before or after sliding onto the base body 12, a ring roll 24is integrally formed at the reinforcement ring 14. The ring roll 24rests on a top surface of the cover plate 18. The reinforcement ring 14rests on the cover collar 20 in a region above and below the bead 20. Ina region below the bead 20, then ending with the lower rim of the cover10, and even above the bead 20, as the case may be, the reinforcementring 14 and the cover collar 20 are interconnected, by sealing oradhesive bonding, for example.

Thus, the reinforcement ring 14 with its ring roll 24 rests, see FIG. 3,on the top surface of the cover plate 18, and furthermore rests on theradially exterior side of the cover collar 20 both above and below thebead 22 on the cover collar 20. As a consequence, the cover 10 is verystable, and in particular the bead 22 is stabilized by the reinforcementring 14.

The cup 16 is provided, as is apparent from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, on itsupper, open end with a lip rim or lip roll 26 that has an approximatelycircular cross section, visible in the sectional view of FIG. 3. Whenthe cover 10 is placed on, the circumferential bead 22 snaps in behindthe lip rim or lip roll 26, and thus secures the cover 10 on the cup 16to prevent unintentional removal.

The cover 10 allows a particularly leak-tight closure of the cup 16 inthat a region between the bead 22 and the transition of the cover collar20 to the cover plate 18 is formed with an outwards curvature. In theplaced-on condition of the cover 10, an upper portion of the bead andmost important the region between the bead and the cover plate 18 restsessentially planar against the lip rim 26. Thus, there is acomparatively leak-tight closure obtained between the cup 16 and thecover 10. This is also due to the fact that the cover collar 20 does nothave an overlapping.

Overall, the reinforcement ring 14 is configured approximately in theshape of a truncated cone, wherein the diameter thereof is enlargingfrom the ring roll 24 downwards. The cover collar 20 as well followssaid downwards enlarging basic shape of a truncated cone. Therefore, thecover 10 is outwards expanded in a truncated cone shape on the radiallyinterior side of the cover collar 20 below the bead 22. As a result,when the cover 10 is placed on the lip rim 26 of the cup 16, the cover10 is self-centering, and sliding the cover 10 on is substantiallyfacilitated. The bead 22 is rounded in such a manner that during slidingthe cover 10 on, said cover is resiliently expanded when the bead 22slides past the lip rim 26. Upon passing the smallest diameter of thebead 22, the cover 10, and in particular the bead 22, will snap-inbehind the lip rim 26, and thus lock the cover 10 on the cup 16 in aposition as shown in FIG. 3.

The cover 10 is configured in an aesthetically appealing manner, sincethe radially exterior side of the reinforcement ring 14 has a smoothsurface. Thus, said radially exterior side of the reinforcement ring 14can be provided with a high-grade printing and the cover plate 18 aswell. Advantageously, a surface of the base body 12, in FIG. 3 shown tobe at the bottom, may be coated to prevent intrusion of liquid ormoisture from the interior of the cup 16 into the paper material of thebase body 12.

The illustration of FIG. 4 shows multiple stacked covers 10 according toFIG. 1, and FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of multiple stacked covers 10.

As is apparent, a radially interior bottom side of the bead 22 of thecover 10 sitting on top rests on the ring roll 24 of the cover 10sitting in the middle, and a radially interior portion of the cover 10sitting on top below the bead 22 rests on the exterior of thereinforcement ring 14 of the cover 10 sitting in the middle. Thus, thecovers 10 are, on the one hand, securely stacked one upon the other andare prevented from shifting to one side. In addition, the bead 22provides for the feature that the covers 10 in the stacked condition notgetting jammed into another, since the bead 22 actually prevents thatthe covers 10 slide further into another than illustrated in FIG. 5.Even numerous covers 10 stacked into another may be easily separated,due to that feature.

The illustration of FIG. 6 shows a cover 30 according to the inventionaccording to another embodiment of the invention, wherein the cover 30has a rectangular basic shape of rounded corners. Said cover 30 isgenerally similar to the cover 10 as described with reference to FIGS. 1to 5, and has in particular a base body 12 including a planar coverplate 18, and a cover collar 20 extending downwards from the cover plate18. Said cover collar 20 is, refer to FIG. 7, provided with a radiallyinwards extending circumferential bead 22. A reinforcement ring 14 isplaced on the exterior of the base body 12, said ring being providedwith a circumferential ring roll 24 on the upper end thereof. Except forthe rectangular basic shape, said cover 30 is thus identical to thecover 10 of FIGS. 1 to 5.

The illustration of FIG. 8 shows a cover 32 according to the inventionaccording to another embodiment of the invention. The cover 32 isidentical to the cover 10 as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5,except for a triangular basic shape and rounded corners. FIG. 9 showsthe cover 32 of FIG. 8 in an oblique view from below.

The illustration of FIG. 10 shows a cover 40 including a base body 42and a reinforcement ring 44. The cover 40 is placed onto the cup 16.

In the sectional view of FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the structure of themultipart cover 40 made of paper material can be seen in more detail.The base body 12 has a planar cover plate 48 and a cover collar 50projecting therefrom, said cover collar extending over the entireperiphery of the cover plate 48 and disposed approximately perpendicularto the cover plate 48. The base body 42 is produced from a one-piece,circular paper cut-out by deep drawing, and initially has a bowl shapewith straight side walls, formed by the planar cover plate 48 and thecover collar 50. Then, a bead 52 is integrally shaped into the covercollar 50 extending radially inwards and having essentially the sameshape as the bead 22 of cover 10 in FIGS. 1 to 5. Said bead 22 isconfigured to be circumferential and has a constant distance to thecover plate 48. A transitional region 54 between the bead 52 and thecover plate 48 is formed in the shape of a circle segment, in the crosssection of FIG. 12, and thereby may receive the lip rim 26 of the cup 16and provide for a leak-tight closure and secure hold of the cover 40 onthe cup 16. As mentioned, the base body 42 is produced from a one-piecepaper cut-out such that the base body 42 does not include an overlappingof two or more paper layers, and thereby may rest planar against the liprim 26.

The reinforcement ring 44 is placed around the base body 42 and rests ona radially exterior periphery of the cover collar 50. Therein, thereinforcement ring 44 rests above and below the bead 52 on the covercollar 50, see FIG. 12, and thereby stabilizes the bead 52 as well. Thisapplies in particular in case that the reinforcement ring 44 isconnected to the cover collar 50 above and below the bead 52 by materialengagement, for example by adhesive bonding or sealing.

Above the cover plate 48 the cover 40 has a circular cylindricalperipheral skirt 56. The skirt 56 is formed by foldover of the materialof the reinforcement ring 44 by 180° and pressing of the foldover. Adiameter of the skirt 56 is somewhat smaller than the diameter of thecover collar 44 in a region below the cover plate 48, and also somewhatsmaller than the outer diameter of the lip rim 26. The outer diameter ofthe skirt 56 is to a minor extent smaller or equal to an inner diameterof the cover collar 50 in a region below the bead 52. As is visible inFIGS. 13 and 14, multiple covers 40 may thus be stacked one upon theother. Then, an interior side of the cover collar 50 of a respective topcover rests on the exterior of the skirt 56 of the respective lowercover. Thus, multiple covers 40 can be stacked securely. Sliding ofmultiple covers 40 on top of another and as a consequence jamming ofmultiple stacked covers 40 is prevented in that a respective lowest rimof an upper cover 40 rests on a step of the respective lower cover 40,said step being formed at a transition between the skirt 56 and theregion of the reinforcement ring 44 below the cover plate 48, that is,in a transitional region 54, wherein the outer diameter of the cover 40is enlarged in the form of a step. Furthermore, the topmost rim of theskirt 46 of the respective lower cover rests on the lower end of arespective bead 52 of the upper cover 40, and thus also prevents thattwo or more stacked covers slide onto another and thereby get jammed.

The illustration of FIG. 15 shows a cover 60 according to the inventionaccording to another embodiment of the invention placed on the cup 16.The cover 60 comprises a one-piece base body 62 and a reinforcement ring64 placed around the periphery of the base body 62. The reinforcementring 64 is sealed onto the planar upper surface of the base body 62 in aregion 65.

As can be seen in the sectional view of FIG. 17, the reinforcement ring64 forms a peripheral step or shoulder by means of the region 65 on thecover top side, with the height of the step being significantlyexaggerated in FIG. 17.

The base body 62 is identical to the base body of the cover 10 in FIGS.1 to 5, and comprises a planar, circular cover plate 68 and a covercollar 70 extending from the cover plate 68. The cover collar 70 isprovided with a circumferential and radially inwards extending bead 72.Consequently, the base body 62 has a bowl-type shape, with the covercollar 70 not being arranged in a right angle to the cover plate 68, butincluding an angle of somewhat more than 90° to the cover plate suchthat the base body 62 is slightly flaring towards the open end thereof,except for the radially inwards extending bead 72. A transitional regionbetween the bead 72 and the cover plate 68 is in the shape of a circlesegment, as viewed in cross section in order to receive the lip rim 26of the cup 16. Thus, on the one hand, the cover can be securely held onthe cup 16 by means of the bead 72 snapping-in behind the lip rim 26,and on the other hand, a tight sealing of the cup 16 is obtained.

The reinforcement ring 64 is placed around the exterior periphery ofbase body 62 and rests on a radially exterior side of the cover collar70 above and below the bead 72. In a region above the cover plate 68 thereinforcement ring 64 is in the shape of a truncated cone, with thediameter of the reinforcement ring 64 decreasing towards the top in FIG.17. Thus, above the cover plate 68, the cover 60 has a bowl-type shapeopen towards the top. The reinforcement ring 64 is folded over by 180°at the upper edge thereof above the cover plate such that a peripheralskirt 76 in the shape of a truncated cone is formed above the coverplate 68. Adjacent to the skirt the reinforcement ring 64 is folded overand parallel to the upper surface of the cover plate 68, to thereby formthe region 65. In the region 65 the reinforcement ring 64 is sealed orbonded to the upper surface of the cover plate 68.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19 it is obvious that multiple covers 60 canbe stacked. Thereby the skirt 76 tapering towards the top in a truncatedcone shape of a respective lower cover 60 comes to be placed within thecover collar 70 of a respective upper cover 60, and sliding of twostacked covers 60 too far onto another is prevented in that theperipheral skirt 76 of a respective lower cover 60 abuts inside the bead72 of the respective upper cover 60.

The cover 60 is particularly stable due to the peripheral skirt 76 andthe region 65 of the reinforcement ring 64 connected to the cover uppersurface. As a result, the cover 60 may either be used for very largecups 16, or the cover 60 may be constructed using thinner papermaterial.

The illustration of FIG. 20 shows a cover 80 according to the inventionplaced onto the cup 16.

The cover 80 is essentially similar to the cover 10 of FIGS. 1 to 5, andtherefore merely the differing components will be explained.

The cover 80 comprises a one-piece base body 82 exhibiting minordifferences to the base body 12 of cover 10. A reinforcement ring 84 isslid on the base body 82, said ring being identical to the reinforcementring 14 of cover 10.

As is evident in particular in FIGS. 21 and 22, the reinforcement ring84 rests in a region above and below a bead 92 on a cover collar 90 ofthe base body 82. The reinforcement ring 84 comprises a circumferentialroll ring above a cover plate 88 of the base body 82 which rests on anupper surface of the cover plate 88. In contrast to the cover 10 ofFIGS. 1 to 5, the cover plate is not planar over the entire diameter,but has a circular, planar, inner portion extending up to the interiorside of the lip rim 26 of cup 16. Starting from said inner, planarregion towards the exterior, the cover plate 88 adapts, as seen in crosssection, to the shape of the lip rim 26, and then passes into the covercollar 90. Thereby, the lip rim 26, as seen in cross section, isreceived in a groove having a cross section in the shape of a segment ofa circle at a transition between the cover plate 88 and the cover collar90 over an angular range of 180°. Thus, the cover 80 can provide aparticularly leak-tight closure of the cup 16. This is due to the factthat the region of the cover collar 90 above the bead 92 and the edgeregion of the cover plate 88 adjacent thereto have an outward curvatureand assume a shape of a segment of a circle, as seen in cross section,matched to the outer diameter of the lip rim 26.

As can be seen in FIG. 23 and FIG. 24, multiple covers 80 can be stackedonto another. The multiple covers 80 rest one on the other in a similarway as described with reference to covers 10 of FIGS. 1 to 5.

The illustration of FIG. 25 shows a cover 100 having a one-piece basebody 102 and a reinforcement ring 104 placed around the periphery of thebase body 102. The cover 100 is placed onto a cup 106.

As is evident in particular in FIGS. 26 and 27, the base body 102includes a planar cover plate 108 and a cover collar 110 extending fromthe periphery of the cover plate 108. The cover collar 110 is providedwith a bead 112 extending radially inwards. The bead 112 has anapproximately triangular cross section, as seen in the cross section ofFIG. 27. Thus, the bead 112 forms a projection with an upper sidethereof facing the cover plate 108 and located nearly parallel to thecover plate 108, and a bottom side thereof extending in an angle ofapproximately 45° to the cover plate 108. Thus, the bead 112 can snap inbehind a flattened lip rim 116 of the cup 106 during placing on thecover 100. The flattened lip rim 116 of the cup 106 is received betweenthe cover plate 108 and the upper surface of the bead 112 facing thecover plate 108 in the placed-on condition of the cover 100. Thus, aparticularly secure fixing of the cover 100 on the cover 106 isobtained.

In the top region above the cover plate 108, the reinforcement ring 104is provided with a ring roll 114 resting on an upper surface of thecover plate 108. In the region below the cover plate 108, thereinforcement ring 104 is outwards enlarging in a cone shape and restson the cover collar 110 above and below the bead 112.

During sliding on the cover 100, the flattened lip rim 116 is initiallyapproaching the bottom side of the bead 112, whereby the reinforcementring 104 is then radially enlarged in an inclined plane by the action ofthe bottom of the bead 112, until the bead 112 is located below the liprim 116, and the reinforcement ring 104 may then again snap-in radiallyinwards. A region between the bead 112 and the cover plate 108 isconfigured to be curved radially outwards to securely receive theflattened lip rim 116 in the placed-on condition of the cover 100.

The cup 106 may be a yoghurt cup, for example, and in addition to thecover 100, a film or aluminum layer is sealed onto the upper side of theflattened lip rim 116 to completely close the content of the cup fromthe environment. In the opened condition of the cup and after a portionof the contained yoghurt has been consumed, for example, the cup 106 maythen be closed reliably using the cover 100.

As can be seen in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29, multiple covers 100 can bestacked onto another. In the stacked condition, the roll ring 114 of arespective lower cover 100 abuts the bottom of the bead 112 of arespective upper cover 100, and thereby prevents that two covers 100stacked onto another slide too far into another and may thus get jammed.

In the illustration of FIG. 29, the shaping of the region 118 betweenthe bead 112 and the cover plate 108 is visible. Said region 118 isconfigured to be curved outwards and has the shape of a half oval, inthe cross section of FIG. 29, and is thus adapted to the shape of theouter rim of the flattened lip rim 116 of the cup 106.

The illustration of FIG. 30 shows a cover 120 according to anotherembodiment of the invention. The cover 120 is provided with a one-piecebase body 122 and a reinforcement ring 124 placed around the peripheryof the base body 122. The cover 120 is placed on the cup 16.

As is evident in the sectional view of FIGS. 31 and 32, the base body122 of the cover 120 comprises a circular, planar cover plate 128 and acover collar 130 extending from said cover plate. The cover collar 130includes an angle of somewhat more than 90° to the cover plate 128 suchthat the base body 122 has a bowl shape open towards the bottom in FIG.32, and flaring to the open end thereof.

The cover collar 130 is provided with a circumferential bead 132, seeFIG. 34, extending radially outwards and having the shape of the segmentof a circle, as seen in cross section. The radius of the circle ismatched to the outer diameter of the lip rim 26 of the cup 16 such thatin the condition of the cover 120 placed-on, see FIGS. 31 and 32, thelip rim is received in the bead 132 with the radially exterior regionthereof, and thus the cover 120 is arranged in a defined position on thecup 16. Therein, the bead 132 is disposed at a constant distance to thecover plate 128. Thus, the cover plate 128 is disposed by said distanceabove the upper edge of the lip rim 26 of the cup 16.

The reinforcement ring 124 has a roll ring 134 above the cover plate128, resting on an upper surface of the cover plate 128. In a regionbelow the cover plate 128, the reinforcement ring 124 rests planar on anexterior side of the cover collar 130, and thus also follows theextension of the bead 132. Thereby, the reinforcement ring 124 has aradially outwards projecting bead 136 in the region below the coverplate 128. Due to the planar abutment of the reinforcement ring 124 onthe cover collar 130 over the entire surface of the cover collar 130,the cover collar 130 is very stable. This may even be further improvedin that the reinforcement ring 124 is bonded or sealed in a planarmanner to the cover collar 130, for example.

Referring to FIGS. 33 and 34 it is obvious that multiple covers 120 canbe stacked one onto the other. In the stacked condition, the lowermostedge of the cover collar 130 of the respective upper cover rests on theupper side of the bead 136 of the reinforcement ring 124 of therespective lower cover 120, and thus prevents that two stacked covers120 slide too far onto another and get jammed.

The illustration of FIG. 35 shows another cover 140 according to theinvention that is placed on the cup 16. The cover 140 is very similar tothe cover 120 of FIGS. 30 to 34, and therefore merely the componentsdiffering from those of cover 120 will be explained.

The cover 140 comprises a one-piece base body 142 having an identicalstructure to the base body 122 of the cover 120 of FIGS. 30 to 34.Around the base body 142 is placed a reinforcement ring 144. Thereinforcement ring 144 differs from the reinforcement ring 124 of thecover 120 merely in that instead of the roll ring 134 above the coverplate 128 a peripheral skirt 146 is provided. In the region below thecover plate 128, see FIGS. 36 to 39, the reinforcement ring 144 isidentical to the reinforcement ring 124 of the cover 120.

The skirt 146 is formed by folding over the region of the reinforcementring 144 above the cover plate 128 by 180° and subsequent pressing ofsaid foldover. The peripheral skirt 146 has a truncated cone shapetapering towards the top, away from the cover plate 128. When stackingmultiple covers 140, see FIGS. 38 and 39, an interior side of the covercollar 130 of a respective upper cover 140 rests on the exterior side ofthe skirt 146 of the respective lower cover 140. Also, the lowermostedge of the cover collar 130 rests on the upper side of the bead 136 ofthe reinforcement ring 144 of the respective lower cover 140, andthereby prevents that multiple stacked covers 140 slide too far intoanother and thus get jammed.

For producing a multipart cover according to the invention, at first abase body including a cover plate and a cover collar is shaped from aone-piece paper cut-out, conveniently by deep drawing of the papercut-out. Depending on the desired basic shape of the cover, said papercut-out may have a different shape, for example, circular, rectangularor triangular.

A circumferential bead can be formed in the cover collar of the basebody, extending either radially inwards or radially outwards. The shapeof the bead may be selected to be such that it either extends radiallyoutwards and is matched to the shape of a lip rim of a cup to be closed.If the bead is extending inwards, the bead is a circumferentialprojection to snap-in below the lip rim of a cup to be closed uponplacing the cover on. A region between the bead and the cover plate maybe shaped to be curved radially outwards, and advantageously, theshaping is such that it is matched to the cross-sectional shape of thelip rim of a cup to be closed. Such a lip rim of a cup to be closed canhave a circular or even oval shape, as seen in cross section, when thelip rim is flattened.

A reinforcement ring is shaped from a strip-shaped paper cut-out in thatthe strip-shaped paper cut-out is connected to a ring shape in thevicinity of an overlapping. In the vicinity of the overlapping, thestrip-shaped paper cut-out can be bonded by adhesive or sealed. Forstiffening, the reinforcement ring can be provided with a ring roll or aperipheral skirt, for example. The reinforcement ring is applied on thecover collar on the radially exterior side of the cover collar, andconnected to the cover collar at least sectionally, for example byadhesive bonding, gluing or sealing. For example, the reinforcement ringcan be slid onto the base body and then secured thereto.

To produce a particularly stable cover, a reinforcement means in a bowlshape can be provided above the cover plate. A planar bottom of thereinforcement means is then resting on the cover plate of the base body,and a reinforcement collar of the reinforcement means is appropriatelyconnected to the reinforcement ring, by means of a peripheral skirtabove the cover plate, for example.

The illustration of FIG. 40 shows a cover 150 according to the inventionaccording to another embodiment that is placed onto a cup 156. The cover150 is in a two-piece form and comprises a bowl-shaped base body 152 anda reinforcement ring 154 placed around the rim of the bowl-shaped basebody 152.

In the sectional view of FIG. 41 showing the cup 156 with the cover 150placed thereon, the bowl shape of the base body 152 open at the bottomis visible. The base body 152 includes a cover plate 158 and acircumferential cover collar 160 extending from the periphery of thecover plate 158.

In the illustration of FIG. 42 an enlarged detail of FIG. 41 is shown.The cup 156 has a lip rim 162 at the upper edge thereof. A transitionbetween the cover plate 158 and the cover collar 160 is rounded andmatched to the outer radius of the lip rim 162. Thus, the cover 150 withits base body 152 rests tight on the lip rim 162. Since the base body152 is in one piece, there is no overlapping and thus, said base bodycan adapt tightly to the lip rim 162 over the entire periphery thereof.Indeed, the lip rim 162 in general has an overlapping, however, saidoverlapping has but a very small height, since the lip rim is integrallyshaped with the truncated cone-type shell, and the overlapping isthereby flattened.

The reinforcement ring 154 is slid over the base body 152 on theexterior, and includes a roll ring 162 resting on the upper surface ofthe cover plate 158. Adjacent to the roll ring 162 the reinforcementring 154 extends radially downwards and rests continuously on a radiallyexterior side of the cover collar 160.

The cover collar 160 and the reinforcement ring 154 have a conicaloutwards enlargement or flaring on their lower portion in FIG. 42.Thereby, the placing on of the cover 150 onto the cup 156 isfacilitated. The cover 150 does not include a bead to engage behind thelip rim 162. Due to the one-piece embodiment of the base body 152, thecover 150 still provides a sufficiently leak-tight closure. Since thecover collar 160 and the reinforcement ring 154 are more than twice ashigh as the lip rim 162, the cover 150 sits secure on the cup 156,without a bead provided, and thus may be removed easily.

In the illustration of FIG. 43, a total of three stacked covers 150 areshown, and FIG. 44 shows a sectional view through said three stackedcovers 150. It is obvious that in each case an enlarged, lower portion164 rests on the exterior of the respective ring roll 162 of the lowercover 150, with a cone angle of the region 164 and a cone angle of thereinforcement ring 154 in the region downwards adjacent to the roll ring162 being essentially similar. This is to prevent that the respectiveupper cover 150 slides too far onto the respective lower cover 150. Thisis to avoid that even numerous covers 150 stacked one upon the otherbecome blocked and may be separated but with difficulty.

The illustration of FIG. 45 shows a cover 170 according to the inventionin another embodiment of the invention with the cover 170 placed onto acup 176.

The cover 170 is configured in a two-piece form and has a bowl-shapedbase body 172 which comprises a cover plate 178 and a cover collar 180extending downwards from the periphery of the cover plate, see thesectional view of FIG. 46. A reinforcement ring 174 is placed on theradially exterior periphery of the base body 178 and the cover collar180, respectively, and connected to the cover collar 180, by means ofsealing or adhesive bonding, for example.

The illustration of FIG. 47 shows an enlarged detail of FIG. 46. Thecover collar 180 is folded over by 180° at the lower edge thereof, andthen, after another bending by 90°, forms a peripheral step or shoulder182 extending radially inwards. Thereby, an interspace is formed betweenthe cover plate 178 and the step 182, matched to the height of a lip rim184 of the cup 176. During placing on the cover 170 onto the lip rim 184of the cup 176, the cover collar 180 including the reinforcement ring174 is enlarged radially outwards, until the projection 182 snaps-inbehind the lip rim 184. Then, the cover plate 178 rests on top of thelip rim 184, and the projection 182 rests on the bottom of the lip rim184. A transition between the cover collar 180 and the cover plate 178is configured in a rounded shape and matched to the outer radius of thelip rim 184. Thus, the cover 170 provides a reliable leak-tight closureof the interior of the cup 176. This is also due to the fact that thebase body 172 is in one-piece, and thus there is no overlapping in thevicinity of the transition between the cover plate 178 and the covercollar 180.

The reinforcement ring 174 rests planar on an exterior side of the covercollar 180 and is connected to the exterior side of the cover collar180, for example, by adhesive bonding or sealing on. Above the covercollar 180 the reinforcement ring 174 forms a peripheral, cylindricalskirt 186. The skirt 186 is obtained in that an upper edge of thereinforcement ring 174 is folded over by 180°. An outer diameter of theskirt 186 is insignificantly smaller than an interior diameter of thecover collar 180 in a region below the step 182.

As is evident in the illustrations of FIG. 48 and FIG. 49, the stackingof multiple covers 170 is allowed thereby. During stacking, the covercollar of a respective upper cover 170 slides past the exterior of theskirt 186 of the respective lower cover 170, until the step 182 of theupper cover abuts on the upper rim of the skirt 186 of the lower cover.An end position of the upper cover on the lower cover is definedthereby, and the covers stacked onto another cannot become blocked, butmay be readily separated again.

The reinforcement ring can be connected in a region above and below theprojection 182 to the cover collar 180, for example by adhesive bondingor sealing on, to stabilize the cover 170 in particular in the region ofthe step 182.

Even when providing a bead on the cover collar, see the embodiment ofFIGS. 15 to 17, for example, the reinforcement ring 64 can be connectedto the cover collar above the bead 72 and below the bead 72, for exampleby adhesive bonding or sealing on. Thereby the bead 72 is stabilized.

In all the embodiments of the cover according to the invention, thereinforcement ring and the base body of the cover may be produced fromdifferent materials, for example paper or cardboard in differentmaterial thickness or quality. For example, the reinforcement ring mayhave material characteristics, at least on an exterior side thereof,that ensure simple printing on in high quality. A material combinationof synthetic material/paper is also conceivable.

1. A multipart cover made of paper material, comprising a base bodywhich includes a cover plate and a circumferential cover collarextending from the cover plate, wherein the cover collar, in a conditionplaced onto a container to be closed, surrounds an upper rim of thecontainer to be closed, and a reinforcement ring which surrounds thecover collar at least sectionally on the radially exterior side of thecover collar.
 2. The multipart cover according to claim 1, wherein thecover collar includes at least one bead encircling the cover collar inthe circumferential direction, wherein viewed in the elevation directionthe bead is disposed at a constant distance to the cover plate.
 3. Themultipart cover made of paper material according to claim 1, wherein thebead extends radially inwards relative to a portion of the cover collarimmediately adjacent to the cover plate.
 4. The multipart coveraccording to claim 3, wherein a portion between the bead and the coverplate is curved radially outwards, as viewed in cross section.
 5. Themultipart cover according to claim 4, wherein a portion of the coverplate, immediately adjacent to the cover collar, is curved outwards asviewed in cross section and extends, starting from the transitionbetween cover collar and cover plate, downwards towards the open side ofthe cover.
 6. The multipart cover according to claim 1, wherein in adownwards direction, in the direction towards the open side of the coversuccessive to the bead up to the lower rim of the cover, the covercollar is configured in the shape of a truncated cone.
 7. The multipartcover according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the reinforcement ringdisposed above the cover bottom has an outer diameter that is smallerthan an inner diameter of the cover collar below the bead and an innerdiameter of the bead is smaller than the outer diameter of thereinforcement ring above the cover bottom.
 8. The multipart coveraccording to claim 1, wherein the reinforcement ring on an upper surfaceof the cover bottom is provided with a roll ring extending over theperiphery of the cover and having an essentially circular cross section.9. The multipart cover according to claim 8, wherein the roll ring restson the upper surface of the cover bottom.
 10. The multipart coveraccording to claim 1, wherein the reinforcement ring is provided with aperipheral skirt on an upper surface of the cover bottom.
 11. Themultipart cover according to claim 10, wherein the skirt (56) iscylindrical.
 12. The multipart cover according to claim 10, wherein theskirt is in the shape of a truncated cone.
 13. The multipart cover madeof paper material according to claim 2, wherein the bead extendsradially outwards relative to a portion of the cover collar immediatelyadjacent to the cover plate.
 14. The multipart cover according to claim13, wherein the reinforcement ring on an upper surface of the coverbottom is provided with a roll ring extending over the periphery of thecover and having an essentially circular cross section.
 15. Themultipart cover according to claim 13, wherein the reinforcement ring onan upper surface of the cover bottom is provided with a peripheralskirt.
 16. The multipart cover according to claim 13, wherein thereinforcement ring rests planar against a periphery of the cover collar.17. The multipart cover according to claim 16, wherein the reinforcementring has a bead extending radially outwards, and the radially exteriorupper side thereof is a support surface for stacking another similarcover.
 18. The multipart cover according to claim 17, wherein a lowerperipheral edge of the cover collar and/or of the reinforcement ring, inthe stacked condition of two similar covers, rests on the supportsurface on the upper side of the bead.
 19. The multipart cover accordingto claim 1, wherein the reinforcement ring is connected to the covercollar by means of adhesive bonding or sealing above and below the beadextending along the periphery.
 20. The multipart cover according toclaim 1, wherein the base body is configured in one piece and has anessentially constant material thickness.
 21. The multipart coveraccording to claim 20, wherein the base body is produced from a planarcut-out by means of folding the cover collar from the cover plate.
 22. Amethod for producing a multipart cover made of paper material,comprising the following steps: shaping a base body from a one-piecepaper material cut-out, wherein the base body includes a cover plate anda circumferential cover collar extending from the cover plate, andwherein the cover collar is provided with a circumferential bead,shaping a reinforcement ring, and connecting the reinforcement ring tothe base body such that the reinforcement ring surrounds the covercollar on the radially exterior side.